THE ACTIVE VOID STUDIO
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A quiet corner of the studio. Stories from the dark, tips for your walls, and a deeper look into the world of high-contrast acrylic art.
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Welcome to the blog. This is where I share the stories behind the paintings, the techniques that shape the Active Void process, and the practical advice I’ve gathered from thirty years of designing and painting.
Latest Articles
What is negative space in painting and why leave parts unpainted?
Negative space is the empty area surrounding a subject in a painting, and in the Active Void technique, it is just as important as the…
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How does an artist decide what to leave out of a painting?
Deciding what to leave out of a painting is often harder than deciding what to put in. After thirty years working as a designer, I…
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Browse All Articles
What is negative space in painting and why leave parts unpainted?
Negative space is the empty area surrounding a subject in a painting,…
How does an artist decide what to leave out of a painting?
Deciding what to leave out of a painting is often harder than…
What is tenebrism, and does anyone still paint that way?
Tenebrism is a dramatic painting technique that uses extreme, almost theatrical contrasts…
Why do artists paint the background dark before adding light?
Painting the background dark before adding light creates a unified void that…
How long does an acrylic painting actually take?
For a standalone piece, the physical painting takes about two to three…
Does monochrome art work in a colourful room?
Absolutely, and not just black and white. In my work, monochrome means…
Does black and white art work in a colourful room?
Absolutely. In fact, black and white art is one of the easiest…
How do you hang dark artwork in a bright room?
Dark artwork relies on high contrast, so placing it in a bright…
What size art print suits a bedroom wall?
For a standard bedroom wall, an A3 print (roughly 30x42cm) is the…
Why does monochrome art feel calming?
Monochrome art feels calming because it removes the chaos of competing colours.…
What’s the difference between buying an original painting and a print?
An original is the one-of-a-kind piece that I painted with my own…
How do you start buying art on a normal budget?
You start small. You start with prints. And you start by buying…